{"id":216012,"date":"2025-09-10T17:10:15","date_gmt":"2025-09-10T17:10:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/216012\/"},"modified":"2025-09-10T17:10:15","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T17:10:15","slug":"drought-worsening-in-mass-prompting-water-restrictions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/216012\/","title":{"rendered":"Drought worsening in Mass., prompting water restrictions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite the recent deluge of rain, a significant drought has been declared<\/a> for most of Massachusetts, with state officials urging residents to abide by local water restrictions and be aware of outdoor wildfire risks<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough the spring and early summer months brought some much-needed rainfall, which helped bring many regions out of drought, below-normal rainfall over the last three months has quickly moved these regions back into a significant drought,\u201d said Rebecca Tepper, the state\u2019s secretary of energy and environmental affairs. \u201cAugust was notably dry in Massachusetts, with most areas observing 1 to 2 inches or more below-normal rainfall.\u201d<\/p>\n

Three-month precipitation deficits remain widespread, with much of the state receiving only 40 to 80 percent of normal rainfall, officials said. Until now, Cape Cod was previously the only region in Massachusetts experiencing significant drought.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the time of year when we\u2019re naturally in a negative water balance,\u201d said David Boutt, professor of hydrogeology at UMass Amherst. \u201cThe combination of growing season and more evaporation than precipitation is when drought can rapidly onset, and we\u2019re seeing this unfold.\u201d<\/p>\n

This past weekend\u2019s rainfall, as much as 2 to 3 inches in some areas, has not been enough <\/a>to pull New England out of drought.<\/p>\n

\"AA look at soil moisture across Southern New England with 100 percent being “normal.”Boston Globe<\/p>\n

Streambeds are dry, and while groundwater levels are mostly normal across the region they \u201care quickly declining,\u201d Tepper said, especially on Cape Cod and Nantucket. <\/p>\n

\"StreamStream flow levels are below normal across many areas in New England.USGS<\/p>\n

Under a \u201csignificant drought\u201d designation, officials urge communities to restrict nonessential outdoor watering, such as washing sidewalks, patios, driveways, and vehicles, and limiting outdoor watering to hand-held hoses or watering cans between 5 p.m. to 9 a.m.<\/p>\n

Last week, the US Drought Monitor said the Cape and northern parts of the state, including the North Shore, were experiencing \u201cmoderate drought.\u201d<\/p>\n

Drought conditions have been worse in northern New England, where much of New Hampshire and Maine, as well as parts of Vermont, have been experiencing severe drought for the past several weeks.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe latest US Drought Monitor shows extensive drought plaguing Northern New England and expanding into Massachusetts.Boston Globe<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re seeing water storage anomalies approach the peak of last year\u2019s deficit,\u201d said Boutt. <\/p>\n

Should this stretch of exceptionally dry weather continue, the risk of wildland and brush fires across New England increases as there is plenty of vegetation available, and soon-to-be falling leaves, to combust. <\/p>\n

Marianne Mizera can be reached at marianne.mizera@globe.com<\/a>. Follow her @MareMizera<\/a>. Ken Mahan can be reached at ken.mahan@globe.com<\/a>. Follow him on Instagram @kenmahantheweatherman<\/a>.<\/p>\n